JUNE 28 DCM MEETING WITH DR. MOHAMED MATTAR REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002041

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/TIP, NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO PREL KWWN EG
SUBJECT: JUNE 28 DCM MEETING WITH DR. MOHAMED MATTAR
REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

Classified By: Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4(b)(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 28, the DCM met with Dr. Mohamed
Mattar for an update on his USAID-funded research project
into human trafficking in Egypt. Dr. Mattar is an
internationally recognized trafficking expert and the
Executive Director of the Protection Project at Johns Hopkins
University. He briefed the DCM on recent developments on
trafficking in Egypt following release of the TIP report, as
well as recommendations for future action. Dr. Mattar expects
to submit the final copy of his study by the end of the month.

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Recent Developments
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2. (C) On June 25-27, the National Council for Childhood and
Motherhood (NCCM),an Egyptian governmental agency, hosted
the third regional conference on "Violence Against Women"
during which trafficking was specifically highlighted. On
October 28, the Arab League will host a workshop with Johns
Hopkins University on the status of anti-trafficking
legislation in Arab countries. (NOTE: Qatar, Bahrain, Oman,
and Saudi Arabia are all currently drafting anti-trafficking
legislation.) On October 29, the Suzanne Mubarak Center for
Women's Health and Regional Development will host a
conference on violence against women, focusing on trafficking
in Egypt and the Arab world. On November 5, the Arab Council
for Childhood and Development (ACCD) will hold meetings to
discuss child labor and trafficking. On November 12, the
Protection Project will host a conference on incorporating
trafficking into human rights curricula in universities.

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Challenges to Curbing Human Trafficking in Egypt
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3. (C) Mattar suggested that the 2007 TIP Report is unique in
that it goes beyond Egypt's role in transnational trafficking
networks and emphasizes the domestic nature of the problem.
Currently the GOE lacks a reporting system to document most
trafficking cases and implementing legislation remains
stymied by disagreement on a sufficiently inclusive
definition for trafficking. Statistical analysis as well as
legal prosecution remains extremely difficult. According to
the UN, early marriage is considered a form of child
trafficking. However, since marriageable age is not specified
by Islamic law or international conventions, establishing the
legal marrying age in Egypt has proved difficult. Police
complicity in human trafficking, especially in instances of
prostitution and child labor, is a problem. The Egyptian
perception to the trafficking issue in general and the TIP
report specifically is extremely defensive, as was made
evident by the immediate backlash in the press against it.
This has led many Egyptians to view the report as "a set of
accusations rather than a diplomatic tool for engagement".
Mattar said this was more pronounced in Egypt than in the
full Tier 3, where many statistics were found.

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Recommendations
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4. (C) Dr. Mattar plans to include a number of key
recommendations in his trafficking study on Egypt:

- Advocate for anti-trafficking legislation: he cited
Ambassador Moushira Khattab's amendments to the child legal
code, include raising the minimum age of marriage, raising
the criminal responsibility age, and effectively addressing
child labor.
- Create a self-assessment mechanism similar to the
already-existing National Council for Human Rights, or
perhaps as part of the NCHR: the GOE lacks the capacity to
report on its own actions, so officials should be trained to
effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking cases.
- Incorporate human trafficking education into existing
social and human rights programs funded by USAID.
- Focus media attention on trafficking: efforts to engage the
Egyptian public on issues of human trafficking include
creating an observatory to coordinate with journalists and
the DCM recommended utilizing television talk shows as a
forum for discussing the issue.
- Incorporate trafficking challenges into human rights
curricula: host workshops
with university professors and other outreach efforts with
educational institutions.
- Increase and improve research and data collection.

Mattar's full report will by completed by the end of July.


RICCIARDONE